Passport Photo Checker - 2 x 2 in, 35 x 45 mm and 33 x 48 mm

  • Size2 x 2 inches
  • BackgroundPlain white or off-white, no shadows
  • Head height50–69% of the photo
  • GlassesNot allowed
  1. Add your photo
  2. We check it
  3. Download & print

Add a photo for your Photo Checker

For the best result

  • Plain wallCleaner edges around hair
  • Face the lightA window or lamp, no side shadow
  • Neutral faceEyes open, look at the lens
  • No glassesBanned on this document. Hats too
  • Arm's lengthHead and shoulders in frame

Your photo stays on your device. It is processed here in your browser — we don't upload it, and we can't see it.

About this photo

Most passport photo rejections come down to a handful of measurable things: the head is the wrong size in the frame, the eyes sit too low, the background is not plain, or the file is the wrong shape or too heavy. This checker measures your photo against the published rules for the size you choose - 2 x 2 inch US, 35 x 45 mm, or 33 x 48 mm - and tells you which number is out of range. It runs before you upload or print, so you find out now instead of after the application is filed.

Passport Photo Checker photo requirements

Passport Photo Checker photo specification
ShapeExactly square for a US 2 x 2 photo - width must equal height. 35 x 45 mm and 33 x 48 mm are taller than they are wide
Digital size (US 2x2)600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels
File size (US 2x2)240 KB or less for DS-160 and the DV Lottery; 54 KB to 10 MB for online passport renewal
Head height (US 2x2)50%-69% of the image height, chin to the top of the head including hair
Eye height (US 2x2)56%-69% of the image height measured up from the bottom edge
BackgroundPlain white or off-white for US and Indian forms, plain cream or light grey for the UK, white for China. No pattern, no shadow behind the head
GlassesNone for US photos; none unless necessary for the UK; no tinted or glare lenses anywhere
ExpressionNeutral or a natural smile for the US; plain expression with the mouth closed for the UK and China
Age of photo6 months for the US, China and Schengen; 1 month for a UK passport
EditingNo filters, no AI, no background replacement - the original photo is what has to be submitted

Mistakes that get this photo rejected

  • Passing a measurement check is not the same as passing review. Software can confirm your head fills 58% of the frame; it cannot judge whether the lighting flattened your face or whether the shadow behind you counts as plain background. A clean measurement is necessary, not sufficient.
  • The DS-160 refuses files over 240 KB without telling you why - the page simply will not advance. If your pixel dimensions are correct and the upload still fails, check the file size before you touch anything else.
  • COVA, China's online visa form, has no human review at the upload stage. It accepts only a JPEG of 354 x 472 pixels between 40 KB and 120 KB, and after three failed attempts it stops and tells you to bring a printed paper photo to the visa centre.
  • A file can be 600 x 600 and still be a poor photo. Enlarging a small selfie to 600 x 600 produces the correct pixel count with visible softness, and softness is exactly what a human reviewer notices first.
  • No checker can verify the editing rule for you. The State Department prohibits changing a photo with computer software, phone apps, filters or artificial intelligence, which rules out AI background removal and phone beauty modes even when the resulting geometry is perfect.

Printing it for about 40¢

The 4×6 sheet this tool gives you holds several copies of your photo at exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). Order it as an ordinary 4×6 photo print — about 19¢ at Walmart, 39¢ at Walgreens or 42¢ at CVS — then cut them out. That is the same print the store charges $7.64 to $16.99 for at the counter.

The one thing that goes wrong: letting the store’s website or kiosk crop, zoom or “fit” your image. That changes the photo’s physical size and is the most common reason a printed photo is rejected. Always choose the option that prints the whole sheet at actual size.

Common questions

What does a passport photo checker actually check?

The measurable things: aspect ratio, pixel dimensions, file size and format, how tall your head is as a fraction of the frame, and where your eye line sits. Those are the specifications governments publish as numbers, and they are also the most common reasons a photo comes back.

Is this the same as the State Department's own photo tool?

No. The State Department runs an official tool at tsg.phototool.state.gov, but it is primarily a cropping tool - it helps you produce a correctly sized file rather than certifying compliance, and a Department employee makes the final decision. This checker measures your photo against the published numbers so you can fix a problem before submitting.

What are the most common reasons a photo is rejected?

Head size outside the allowed band, a background that is not plain or has a visible shadow, glasses in a US photo, a file that is the wrong shape or too large for the portal, and visible editing. Those five cover the large majority of what gets sent back.

Does the checker work for 35 x 45 mm and 33 x 48 mm photos?

Yes. Pick the size and it applies that country's numbers instead of the US ones - a 32-34 mm head on 45 mm for UK and Schengen photos, or a 28-33 mm head on 48 mm for Chinese ones. The measurements and the pass thresholds change with the size.

If my photo passes here, is it guaranteed to be accepted?

No, and be wary of any site that promises otherwise. Acceptance is a human decision at a passport agency, consulate or visa centre. What a checker can do is remove every reason that is a number, which is where most rejections come from.

CVS printed my photo already - can I still check it?

Yes. Lay the print flat in even light, photograph it straight on or scan it, and check that image. If it fails, you can print a corrected 4 x 6 sheet at the same store for around 39 cents rather than paying the counter a second time.

How much does checking a passport photo cost?

Nothing here. If you have a photo re-taken at a CVS or Walgreens counter instead, you pay the full price again - about $16.99 to $17.99 - because the fee is per sitting, not per accepted photo.

My photo was rejected. Do I have to pay the application fee again?

For a US passport, a photo problem usually means the agency writes to you asking for a replacement photo rather than closing the application, so the fee is not lost - but it costs weeks. For a visa interview appointment, a bad photo can mean rescheduling. Either way, the cost of a rejection is time far more than money.

Other photos you can make free

Checked August 2026 Specifications and prices on this page come from the sources below. Rules and prices change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.